The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

THE NEW TANNER THURSDAY, MAY 21, 1998 Firefighters battle inferno in intense heat Continued from Page I Cunningham said. Cunningham refused to speculate on possible causing for the fire saying the inves- tigation would proceed once the fire was out. Canada Packers closed the tannery in September of 1986, throwing hundreds of Acton employees out of work. There's been a tannery at this site since 1842 when The way to go! 4 cmiirnonie ITAVEL Professional Travel & Cruise Officials "A Wee Taste of DBritain" Trafalgar Tours & Bruce Hood Travel June 2, 2-4 p.m. Abraham Nelles, a United Empire Loyalist and veteran of the War of 1812, came from the Niagara peninsula to found the business. It was bought by Coleman and McIntyre, a firm from Dundas, in 1852. They built a stone addition to the origi- nal frame building and manufactured sole leather with hides imported from Spain. It was during Coleman and MclIntyse's propietorship that the first fire hit. It burned down and was rebuilt. Two more proprietors owned the premises before George L. Beardmore bought the entire property in June of 1865. He repaired the buildings and equipped them well with the best machinery of the time. But again fire struck and when the buildings were re- built it was entirely of stone. Over the years the Beardmore family business expanded by purchasing an- other small tannery produc- ing cordovan leather, it was turned into the manufacture of harness leather. Later the company produced belting leather for industrial use. The tanning industry was attracted to Acton by the availability of hemlock bark, an essential ingredient in tanning leather. When Acton and area started running out, the company built another in Bracebridge in 1879. It closed in the early 1900s and many employees came to Acton. The Beardmore family sold the business to Canada Packers in 1944, the end of their 100" year in business. When synthetic material re- placed hemlock bark the Anglo-Canadian Leather Co. in Huntsville relocated to the Acton plant and more than 50 employees came with them. It explains why so many Acton families have roots in Bracebridge and Huntsville. When the plant closed in 1986 only just over 300 em- ployees were still at work. The Acton plant was also the only source for shoe, belt and GN Tm Olen Werle aac Professional Auction Services Estate & Industrial ¢ Certified Appraiser Consignment Welcome leather goods for the Cana- dian military by that time. The tanning industry in Canada was hit hard by the removal of tariffs by the fed- eral government. The re- moval of tariffs allowed cheaper imported leather into the country and the company found it difficult to compete. There was also pressure from the Ministry of the Environ- ment because of the large amount of toxic material pro- duced by the tanning of leather. Join us for afternoon tea & scones and an educational video NORM WEBSTER (416) 523-6645 (pager) (905) 873-7633 (home) R.R.#1, Limehouse ON e ana ht a a Dr. Pun wishes to announce his retirement from the practice of family medicine in the town of Acton effective August 1, 1998. Dr. Pun wishes to thank the community for the privilege of serving them for the past 25 years. SS First Class Coach Tours -- the only way to go! Sit back, relax, let us do the driving Experience the country gardens, historic sites, meet the people and enjoy a pint in the pubs R.S.V.P. Janet 853-3580 Limited Space 56 Mill Street East, Acton 853-3580 or 1-800-263-0246 + RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL + DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION + INTERLOCKING STONE ROCKERY STONE + NURSERY STOCK & PLANTING +} SNOWPLOWING Rick NO LIMIT FINANCING UP TO 48 MONTHS OAC SPRING BREAKTHROUGH EVENT great features: + AM/FM CD player « class leading interior room * tilt steering - tinted glass + fuel efficient 1.5L DOHC 16 valve EFI engine + side door impact beams « power remote control mirrors + dual air bags * intermittent wipers * 14" tires with full wheel covers « child safety rear door locks » 60/40 split folding rear seats * remote fuel/trunk release « trunk light » centre console -- (a The All New 1998 Mazda 626 LX ONLY $2500 DOWN, Loaded with a 1/ a FREIGHT & PDE INCLUDED / luxury features: + AM/FM CD player + automatic * airconditioning + keyless remote Mazda Personal Lease rate. Offer available on retail leases only. Lease based on 36 months. Down payment or equivalent trade-in, first monthly Payment and security deposit due on delivery. Offer OAC. 626 LX14 (model #F4LS8AA00) down payment $2,500, security deposit $300. Protege SE (model #D4XJ58CP00) down payment $1,700, security deposit $250. 20,000 km per year mileage restrictions apply to all model lease, if exceeded 8 cents per km applies. Lease and purchase + license, insurance, taxes. OFFER ENDS JUNE 3rd, 1998. Avomonat 357 Queen St. E., Acton, Ont. 519-853-0200 905-453-8965 mar 5 VYeac!100,000 kun remote control mirrors = tilt steering Graps! eae + dual air bags « intermittent wipers * tinted glass + fade out interior lights « cruise control » all season tires with full wheel cover * 60/40 split folding rear seats ONLY $2500 DOWN, FREIGHT & PDE INCLUDED / Get in. Be moved.